Week 0 area football preview capsules

Area football capsules for Week Zero:

HLV at WACO

Time and site — 7 p.m. Thursday, at Wayland

Records and rankings — 8-Player 10th-ranked HLV was 7-4 last season; WACO was 3-6.

Overview — WACO debuted in 8-player football in a 28-13 loss to HLV last year. HLV was the 8-Player District 5 runner-up and a playoff qualifier; the Warriors fell to Midland in the first round. Brandon Schufbach is an offensive presence for HLV; last year, as a junior, he rushed for 862 yards and 16 touchdowns, and caught 18 passes for 175 yards and 3 TDs. WACO counters with junior Colton Horak (1,131 yards and 15 TDs rushing; 26 catches, 550 yards and 9 TDs receiving).

Lone Tree at Central City

Time and site — 7 p.m. Thursday, at Central City

Records and rankings — 8-Player 10th-ranked Lone Tree was 8-1 last season; Central City was 3-7.

Overview — Despite a share of the District 4 title (a three-way stalemate with Midland and Iowa Valley), Lone Tree was on the outside looking in when the postseason field was released. The Lions were hit fairly hard by graduation, and among the losses was Jovonte Squiers. Central City, on the other hand, bring back the majority of its roster, and the Wildcats could be a dark-horse factor in District 3. Wade McKinney ran for 763 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. Lone Tree won last year's meeting, 63-22.

Dike-New Hartford at Independence

Time and site — 7:30 p.m. Friday, at Independence

Records and rankings — Class 2A ninth-ranked Dike-New Hartford was 9-3 last season; Independence was 0-9.

Overview — The game was made possible because Baxter CMB — part of Dike-New Hartford's 2A district last year — split into two 8-Player teams. DNH reached the 2A state semifinals last year before falling to Boyden-Hull/Rock Valley. Trent Johnson graduated after rushing for 2,922 yards and 40 touchdowns last year, making the Wolverines somewhat of a mystery. Independence hopes to improve after last year's winless campaign, in which the Mustangs scored only 29 points and were shut out six times.

Springville at West Central

Time and site — 7 p.m. Friday, at Maynard

Records and rankings — Springville was 5-4 last season; West Central was 0-9.

Overview — Springville won last year's encounter, 59-20, on its way to a 3-0 start. The Orioles lost a good chunk of their skill personnel, but do return leading receiver Zach March, who caught 26 passes for 506 yards and seven touchdowns last year. West Central is trying to snap an 11-game losing streak; the Blue Devils allowed 54.4 points per game in 2016. Senior Collin Kime gives the Blue Devils someone to build around; he rushed for 922 yards and caught 25 passes for 351 yards last year.

OTHER AREA GAMES FRIDAY:

Aplington-Parkersburg at Jesup

English Valleys at Tri-County

Iowa Valley at Clarksville

North Mahaska at Highland

l Comments: (319) 368-8857; jeff.linder@thegazette.com